Brace for musical instruments.



NO- 827,183. BATBNTBD JULY 31, 1906.

W. SAIGHMAN. BRAGE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION IIIED MAB.. 9, 1905.'

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UNITED STATlES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM SAIGHMAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM S. LANE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BRACE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1906.

l Application led March 9, 1905. Serial No. 249,152.

tion.

My invention relates to what is termed braces in certain musical instruments where braces are used, said braces being usually secured to the inner side and back of a guitar or similar instrument, also to the sounding-boards of pianos or pianofortes.

The purpose of my invention is to modify the usual structure of these braces in such a manner as to cause a marked improvement in the tone of the instrument or soundingboard to which they are applied without weakening the same.

The principle upon which my improved braces act to improve the tone of the instrument or sounding-board is to allow the vibration to pass through the groove in the braces without interruption, which is not known in the plain brace, and is similar to the wellknown principle of the body of a guitar and violin, which bodies if constructed solidly instead of hollow would be merely supports for the strings and would not reinforce the vibration of the strings in the slightest degree.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a musical-instrument brace formed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line a b of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modiiied brace. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on line c d of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an interior view of a guitar-body, showing three'braces in position.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, my improvement consists in cutting into the thicker side of the brace 1 a plurality of grooves 2 2 and 3 3. Preferably said grooves are inclined at oblique angles to the length of the brace, as shown, and their angle is such that a transverse line drawn through one of said grooves will touch the opposite acuteangled corners thereof. Preferably also the grooves 2 at one side of the center are oppositely directed to the grooves 3 at the other side of the center. In the preferred form the brace is glued directly to the back of the instrument, as shown in Fig. l; but a thin strip may be interposed between the brace and the back. Fig. 3 illustrates that arrangement, 4 designating the strip, which is shown sectionally in Fig. 4.

Throughout the several views 5 designates the back of a guitar or similar instrument.

The sound-board braces of pianofortes may be grooved out in and therefore I do not limit the applicability of this invention to small instruments only, nor do I limit myself to the spacing and arrangement of grooves shown herein.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A brace for stringed. musical instruments consisting of a strip of suitable material, having a plurality of transversely and obliquely directed grooves cut therein, for the purpose described.

2. A brace for stringed musical instruments, said brace having cut therein, from the center to one end thereof, a plurality of obliquely-directed grooves, and having from the center to the opposite end thereof a plurality of obliquely and oppositely directed grooves, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SAIGHMAN.

Witnesses:

CHAs. L. JAcoBs, R. W. HARRINGTON.

the manner shown, 

